Rinaldi: Brazil not obliged to win Copa America

The Selecao's technical coordinator rejected suggestions they must triumph in Chile, but says they are expected to challenge for the title.

Brazil’s technical coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi has rejected suggestions the Selecao are "obliged" to win the upcoming Copa America, but reminded the players they do have an obligation to compete for the title.

"We don’t have an obligation to win the Copa America but we do have an obligation to do our best and compete," Rinaldi told a press conference at the Granja Comary training complex in Teresopolis.

Brazil faces Mexico and Honduras this week as the Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour returns to the country for the first time since since last year’s World Cup in what will be its final warm-up matches before the tournament in Chile.

The Selecao are desperate to bounce back from last year’s World Cup disappointment and Rinaldi has called for the players to channel their pressure into positive performances on the field.

"The players who wear the shirt are well aware that along with it comes the pressure to win," he said. "If a player makes it to the national team it is because he is prepared to deal with that pressure and channel it into positive energy.

"We are telling the players that pressure will come, but that they must know who to deal with it."

The 1994 World Cup winner went on to compare Neymar to some of the game’s greats when asked about his attempted rainbow flick over an Athletic Bilbao defender in last week’s Copa del Rey final for Barcelona.

"We all know what he can do and what he can create. It’s his natural talent. We all talk about it but only focus on what he can do to help the national team.

Rinaldi added: "His skills - like the one we saw from Messi, Maradona, or Pele - they just can’t be explained. They do such fantastic things that are beyond explanation."